Saint Leo University Athletics

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team fell Saturday afternoon in Sunshine State Conference action to Nova Southeastern University, 3-0. The Lions struggled to get things going in the opening two sets before battling back-and-forth with the Sharks in the third before falling 26-24.
 
The loss drops Saint Leo to 5-18 overall including 1-12 in SSC action. The Sharks improved to 10-14 on the year and 3-10 in conference play.
 
Freshman Shelby Toney once again led the offense for the Lions as she tallied a team-best eight kills while adding three digs. Senior Sabrina Valentin added six kills while sophomore Alexa Gandolfo chipped in five.
 
All three of the Lions' setters saw action in the match with freshman Jansen Warbritton leading the way with eight assists and three digs while sophomores Bridget Gallagher and Camila Villar each added five. Gallagher earned eight digs while Villar had one. Graduate student libero Giada Solorzano led the team in digs with 12 while also finishing second in assists with seven.
 
The Sharks were led by Natalya Bergant who had a match-high 10 kills while Hadley Dantzler added nine. NSU had 13 blocks in the match and were led by Dana Gibbons who posted eight total blocks including one solo.
 
The Sharks took the opening two sets 25-12 and 25-17 before the Lions found their footing. Saint Leo fell behind early in the set but a 5-1 run tied the score at 10-10. A 4-1 run followed shortly after to give SLU its first lead in the set at 14-13. The Lions took a three-point lead twice in the set including a 21-18 lead late. The Sharks responded with a 4-0 run to take a 22-21 lead but the Lions did not go down easy. Both teams traded the next five points to tie the set at 24-24. A NSU kill followed by a block closed out the match for the visitors 26-24.
 
The Lions will be back in action Tuesday, Oct. 27 as they travel to nationally-ranked Tampa for a 7 p.m. midweek contest.